Pulmicort contains the active ingredient budesonide, which is an inhalation corticosteroid helpful in treating and preventing symptoms of the chronic respiratory disease asthma. It functions as a prophylactic for both adult and pediatric patients six years of age or older. It is not intended to be used for the relief of sudden onset symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness or coughing, Drugs.com warns. Instead, it helps by reducing inflammation of the bronchial passageways to reduce hypersensitivity to external agents such as allergens and pollution. Pulmicort requires a prescription and is a beneficial respiratory therapy for sufferers of mild to moderate asthma.
Lactose Monohydrate
The only inactive ingredient in the medication Pulmicort is lactose monohydrate, which contains trace levels of milk proteins, according to RXList. Budesonide is a powder compound and is suspended in micronized lactose monohydrate, which helps to distribute the medication when inhaled. For every metered-dosage, there is usually 1 mg of lactose monohydrate and budesonide. Each Pulmicort inhaler contains 180 mcg of 120 actuations or 90 mcg with 60 actuations.
Efficacy
Lactose monohydrate is a preferred carrier agent of inhalation corticosteroids. According to a 2006 National Institutes of Health study, lactose monohydrate performed significantly better than erythritol carrier particles present in alternative corticosteroid inhalation of albutamol sulphate. A 2010 National Institutes of Health study also found that intensive mechanical processing methods of lactose monohydrate yielded increased efficacy in flow characterizations.
Allergies
Since lactose monohydrate is a milk derivative, some patients may experience an allergic reaction. This allergy is not similar to a lactose intolerance in which the body doesn't possess the appropriate enzyme for metabolizing lactose. Instead, a person with a specific milk protein allergy can experience adverse effects, according to RXList. This can cause analylaxis, which is extremely dangerous as it can swell the esophagus, making it difficult to breath. Individuals with milk allergies should alert a physician about this allergy during evaluation.
References
- Drugs.com: Pulmicort
- RXList: Pulmicort Flexhaler
- European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Comparative Study of Erythritol and Lactose Monohydrate as Carriers for Inhalation -- Atomic Force Microscopy and In Vitro Correlation; Traini D, Young PM, Jones M, Edge S, Price R.; February 2006
- Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences; Improving Powder Flow Properrties of a Cohesive Lactose Monohydrate Powder by Intensive Mechanical Dry Coating; Zhou Q, Armstrong B, Larson I, Stewart PJ, Morton DA.; February 2010
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